The heavy oak doors of the abandoned chapel groaned on their rusted hinges, sending a dry, echoing shriek through the vaulted interior.

Lucy had lived her entire life inside the carefully manicured, heavily guarded perimeter of the Marchetti estate, governed by strict schedules, silent dinners, and an invisible, suffocating cloud of her father’s unyielding sorrow. She had never seen anyone stand up to Dominic Marchetti. She had certainly never seen anyone yell at him.

For a breathless second, Lucy expected her father to order the guards to throw the intruder off the property, or worse.

Instead, Dominic exhaled a slow, heavy breath, the dangerous tension leaving his shoulders as he looked down at his daughter.

"Lucy," Dominic said, his voice softening by a fraction as he walked over to her. "What are you doing out here? I told you the east courtyard is off-limits during restorations."

"Martha said I could come find you," Lucy murmured, her gaze sliding past him to look at Tessa. "She said... she said there was someone new."

Tessa stepped out from behind the workbench, wiping her hands on a clean cloth, offering Lucy a warm, welcoming smile that completely transformed her face. Gone was the defensive fury; in its place was a gentle, disarming kindness.

"Hi there," Tessa said, crouching down slightly so she wasn't towering over the little girl. "I'm Tessa. I'm the one trying to put the broken pieces back together."

Lucy looked at Tessa’s dusty clothes, the smudge of charcoal on her cheek, and the way she carried herself with unapologetic confidence. Then, Lucy’s eyes drifted to the makeshift crown Tessa had absentmindedly balanced on top of her messy auburn bun while working—an upside-down copper lampshade salvaged from the chapel’s vestry.

A tiny, involuntary twitch appeared at the corner of Lucy’s mouth.

Dominic watched his daughter closely, noticing the subtle shift in her posture. Lucy rarely smiled—not a real smile, anyway. Most of the time, her expressions were rehearsed, polite, and cautious.

"It's a very impressive hat," Lucy whispered softly.

Tessa reached up, touched the upside-down copper lampshade, and blinked in mock surprise. "Oh, goodness! I completely forgot I was wearing this. Do you think it suits me? Haute couture, right off the altar."

Lucy let out a small, quiet puff of air that sounded dangerously close to a giggle.

Dominic felt a strange, alien sensation twist in his chest. He couldn't remember the last time he had heard his daughter make that sound.

"You're tracking glass dust everywhere," Dominic said, though his tone lacked any real bite.

"It’s honest work, Mr. Marchetti," Tessa said, standing back up and adjusting the copper shade with exaggerated elegance. "Unlike some people’s day jobs."

Dominic narrowed his eyes at her. "Are you implying something, Ms. Miller?"

"Take it however you like," she smiled brightly. "Now, if you'll excuse us, your daughter and I were just discussing the structural integrity of fourteenth-century lead-came soldering."

"We were?" Lucy asked, her eyes wide with amusement.

"We are now," Tessa winked.

Dominic stood there, completely out of his element. For nine years, he had controlled every variable in his household. He had managed threats, negotiated truces, and maintained an ironclad grip on his domain. Yet, within ten minutes, this curvy, sharp-tongued artisan had completely upended his authority, charmed his grieving daughter, and turned his sacred, locked chapel into a comedy workshop.

"Dinner is at seven," Dominic said stiffly, turning toward the door. "Lucy, come inside."

"Can Tessa come too?" Lucy blurted out before she could stop herself.

Both Dominic and Tessa froze.

Tessa quickly shook her head, holding up her hands. "Oh, no, thank you! I have a hotel room in town to get back to, and a mountain of epoxy to dry—"

"She can stay," Dominic interrupted, surprising himself even as the words left his mouth. He looked back at Tessa, his gray eyes unreadable. "Martha always prepares enough food for an army. If you're going to tear apart my chapel, you might as well report on your progress over roast beef."

Tessa stared at him, her mouth opening slightly in surprise. She could see the walls he had built around himself, but she also saw the silent, heavy loneliness echoing in his eyes.